Circus zebras make brief escape onto Baltimore streets

March 20, 2008 8:54:01 PM PDT

BALTIMORE --

Three zebras from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus briefly escaped from their downtown venue on Thursday but were quickly corralled by their trainer and two handlers. The zebras -- Mali, Giza and Lima -- spotted an open door at the 1st Mariner Arena and dashed into traffic on Hopkins Place, but were rounded up half a block away.

Carrie Coleman, a veterinary technician for the circus, told The (Baltimore) Sun it was a frightening incident because the animals were in traffic lanes before returning to the sidewalk.

"They may have thought they were headed home," she said, adding that the zebras were not hurt.

The same three zebras, plus a fourth, made a similar escape in June during the circus' visit to Colorado Springs, Colo.